Automobile door lock



Feb. 13,1940. H, A, PEARCE 2,189,992

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK Filed Oct. 20, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Hcnr'y A. rPea rcC ATTORNEY. S

-Feb. 13, 1940. H. A. PEARCE AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filedoct. 2o. 1957 1N VENT OR. Hen r'y A, Pearce/ BY 75m f ATTORNEY. 5

Feb. 13, 1940. H A PEARCE 2,189,992

AUTOMOBILE DooR LOCK Filed Oct. 20. 1957 6 Sheets-sheet s f r ff 4a I5'/ v I| Fig.

6/ l I NVENTOR F1310. 1 Henry earce ATTORNEY.$

Feb. 13, 1940. H, A. PEARCE Y 2,189,992

' l AUTOMOBILE Doon Loox Filed Oct. 20,` 19557 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORHenry 'Pe/a rce.

9 H. A. PEARCE 2,189,992

AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK Feb. 13, 1940.

Filed Oct. 20, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Henry Hipaa rce.

ATTORNEKS Feb. 13, 1940. H. A. PEARCE AUTOMOBILE DOR LOCK `Filed Oct.20, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Hem" X). @an rce ATTORNEYS PatentedFeb. 13, 1940 PATENT ori-ICE AUTOMO1ILE DOOR LOCK Henry A. Pearce,Detroit, Mich., assignor to Ternstedt Manufacturing Company, Detroit,Mich., a corporation oi' Michigan Application October 20, 1937, SerialNo. 170,069

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an automobile door lock and in particular toimprovements in an automobile door lock of the toggle type.

The most customary automobile door lock used at present comprises asliding bolt which is projected by a convolute spring. As the slidingbolt is retracted by rotation of the outside door han- 4dle androllback, the bolt spring is ,loaded or compressed. Since retraction ofthe latch bolt is a necessary preliminary to opening the door,

' the more force required to retract the bolt, the

more difficult it is to open the door.

It is the object of this invention to produce an automobile -door lockhaving a bolt which can be retracted more easily than the sliding boltin the above-mentioned, conventional latch and in particular', toproduce a latch having a bolt which can be retracted without compressingthe bolt spring. This object has been achieved by combining the slidinglatch bolt with va toggle which can be easily swung over center topermit full retraction of the latch bolt and without compressing 'thebolt spring.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the door andthe body pillar showing the door closed and latched.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsectional view through the latch showing the latch bolt and straightenedtoggle, the latch bolt being retracted half way whichis then limit ofthe bolt retraction when the toggle is straightened.

Fig. 4 isa view showing the bolt fully re'- tracted with the togglebroken. y

Fig.5 is an elevation of the lo'ck with the toggle broken and the boltfully retracted.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the lock4 with the toggle lparts omittedshowing the lock, when the door is open, locked vs. operation from theoutside except by means of a key.

Fig. 7 is a section along the line 1 -1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the locking slide.

Fig. 9 is a detail of the bolt. g

Fig. 10 is a detail of one of the cams for automatically unlocking theoutside push'button.

' Figpll is a detail of the toggle tripping lever.

Fig. 12 is a detail of the remote handle operated retractor and cam forbreaking the toggle.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are fragmentary sectional Fig. 16 is a` horizontalsectional view through p the door and body pillar sh Iatched position.

owing the door in .8 is provided with a shoulder Il.

(Cl. 'l0-150) Fig. 17 is an inside elevation of the latch and remotehandle.

Fig. 18 is an outside fragmentary elevation of the body pillar and doorshowing the outside doorhandle and push button. 5

Fig. 19 is a view showing how the retraction of the bolt in the closingof the door automatically unlocks the lock.

Fig. 20 is a view showing the locking slide plate m raised or iockingposition with the door dosed. 10

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown an automotivevehicle door I and a body pillar 2. The door has aiilxed thereto theoutside door handle Il.4 The iixed outside door hahdle 3 is providedwith a cylindricalropen- 15 ing 4 in which is mounted a cylindricalsleeve 5. 'I he sleeve 5 is provided with a slot 6 which receives theend of the screw pin 1. The pin 1 and slot 6 permit theA cylinder sleeve5 to slide longitudinally in the opening 4 but prevent turn- 20 ing ofthis cylinder sleeve in the opening.

A lock cylinder or plug 8 having a push but-` ton head 9 is slidably androtatably mounted within the cylinder sleeve 5. The lock cylinder 8 isof the pin tumblertype and can be rotated from without the vehicle by akey I0. The cylinder 8 and rollback I1 are always rotated from withinthe body when the lever 53 is operated to raise or lower the plate I8.The lock cylinder A compression coil spring I2 is mounted over thereduced end I3 of the lock cylinder 8 between the shoulder II andbracket LIl which is iixed to the selvage plate I5 of the lock frame I6.The bracket I4 serves as a support bearing for the 35 rotary rollbackI'I. The `rollback I1 is `provided g with a square opening-I8 into whichiits the re' duced end I3 of. the cylinder B which is also of squarecross section.

The lock frame I6 is `fixed to the door by the 40 bolts I9. The bolt isshown in Fig. 9 and comprises a bolt head 20 and a bolt plate 2| whichis provided with the elongated openings 22. The bolt head and plate aremounted for rectilinear sliding movement on the frame I6 by means of 45the headed bolts 23 which pass through and slidably engage the plate 2|in the openings 22 and are screwed into the latch frame I6. The bolthead is also `guided in the opening 424 in the 'selvage plate I5.

pivotally connected to one end of the toggle lever 28 yby the pin 29.The vother end of the toggle lever 28 is pivotally connected to theslide 30 by the pin 3 The slide 30 is'slidably mounted within thehousing 32 which is fixed to the latch frame I6. The compression coilspring 33 is mounted between the slide 30 and the housing 32 andnormally tends to maintain the slide 30 in projected position.' as shownin Fig. 4.

For retaining the slide 30 within the housing 32, the housing 32 isprovided with an elongated slot 34 'which slidably receives the screwpin 35 which is screwed into the slide 30. A torsion spring 36 is alsocarried by the pin 26. One end 31 of the torsion spring acts against thetoggle 21 and urges the toggle over center toward made position, asshown in Fig. 3. The other end 38 of the spring abuts against the bolthead 20. Thus, in made position the pin 29 of the toggle, as viewed inFig. 3, is over center, orslightly above a line passing through the axesof pins 26 and 3|.

As shown in Fig. 1, the pin 26 pivotally supports the tripping lever 40(Fig. 11) for the toggle. One end of the tripping lever 40 is providedwith a linger 4| which engages behind the pin'29. The nger 4| is thuspositioned between the pin '29 and the remote handle retracting slide43. The

remote handle slide 43 is provided with a cam lug 44 which is arrangedto slidably engage the ringer 4| upon the retraction of the plate 43 toswing the tripping lever 40 clockwise about the pin 26 as slidingcontact with the locking plate 48.

viewed in Fig. 3. A spring 45 is positioned between the pin 26 and thebolt plate 2| and overlaps the tripping lever 40 as at 46 to normallyurge the tripping lever counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4,into engagement with the remote retractor plate 43.

The other end 42 of the tripping lever 40 has a The locking plate isshown in detail in Fig. 8. The locking plate is a stamping generally Ushaped in section comprising side walls and |0i and a front wall |02.The locking plate 48 is slidably mounted upon the latch frame I6 bymeans 0f the headed screws 49 which pass through and slidably engage thewall |00 in the elongated slots 50. The front wall of the plate 48 isprovided with an opening |03 through which the bolt projects, Fig. 3.The wall |0| isprovided with an opening which receives the rollback I1.The rollback |1 engages the wall |0| in the mouth 52 of the opening 5|to raise and lower the lock plate 48. The plate 48 can also be raisedand lowered from the inside of the c'ar by the usual lever 53.

Wall |00 of the plate 48 is provided with projecting lugs 54 and 55.When the plate 481s in raised position, as shown in-Fig. 6, the lugs 54and 55 engage under the end 42 of the tripping plate 40. This preventsthe tripping plate 40 from swinging clockwise about the pin 26, asviewed in Figs. 1 and 3, and the push button 9.

. cannot be pushed inwardly to swing the tripping lever 4.0 clockwiseabout the pin 26. Thus, the lock is locked against operation from theoutside except by means of the key |0. By turning the key l0 thecylinder 8 and rollback |1 can be swung counterclockwise to lower theplate 48 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 2. Thisremoves the lugs 54 and 55 from beneath the tripping lever 40 and whenthe push button.9 is pushed inwardly against the tension of coil spring|2 the reduced end |3, which passes through opening 5| in Wall l0| oftheplate 48, engages lever 40 and swings the same clockwise as viewed inFigs. 1 and 3 to break the toggle. As herein used toggie refers to thetoggle levers 21 and 28 which are pivoted to each other as at 29 and tothe bolt and slide by the pins 26 and 3| respectively.

When the locking slide plate 48 is in raised position, Fig. 6, to lockthe lock against outside operation except by means of a key, the toothededge 60 of the plate 48 meshes with the teeth 6| of the lock releasingmember 62. The member 62 is provided with a pair of pins 63 which have afloating engagement with the lock frame I6 in the openings 64, Figs. 6and 1'1. This permits the plate 62 to slide upon the frame I6. The plate62 is also provided with a pawl 65 which interengages with a lug 66 onthe slide plate 49. The latch bolt plate 2| has a cam lug 61.y

In Fig. 6 the lock is shown ln locked position, that is, the lugs 54 and55 prevent operation of the tripping plate 40 by the push button 9.'Ihus the lock at this time is locked within the meaning of the termlocked as herein used. If the lock is locked while the door is in openposition (Fig. 6 so illustrates the lock), then upon closing the doorthe bolt head 20 engages the cam face 68 of the rst section'69 of thestriker. The cam surface 68 retracts the bolt, that is, slides it to theright as viewed in Fig. 6. At this time the cam lug 61 engages the camface 10 of the tripping member 62 and since lug 65 interengages lug 66on' plate 48, member 62 cannot move to the right and therefore cam lug61 cams the member 62 downwardly. Fig. 19 shows the lockv in the processof being automatically unlocked with the lock parts in positionsintermediate those shown in Figs. 6 and 2. As the plate 62 movesdownwardly, it moves the plate 48 vertically downwardly until the snapover center spring 1| throws the plate 48 to its completely lowered andreleased position, shown in Fig. 2. The snap over center spring 1I,which has one end connected to the frame I6 and the other to the plate48,

upon snapping over center releases the teeth 6| from teeth 60 and pawl65 from lug 66 which permits the plate 62, upon further retraction ofthe bolt 2|, to travel with the bolt. Thus, lf the lock is locked whilethe door is open, in closing the door the striker section 69 retractsthe bolt and the cam lug 61, acting through plate 62, lowers thelocking'plate 48 and removes the lugs 54 and 55 from beneath thetripping lever 40. This unlocks the lock and again permits one toretract the lock bolt by pushing in on the button 9.

The latch is provided with a remote handle in the form of a bell cranklever 15 pivotally mounted on the door as at 80. A link 8| is pivotallyconnected as at 82 to the bell crank lever 15 and as at 83 to the remoteretractor plate 43.

The latch bolt striker consists of three parts 69, 84 and 85 which arebackedvup by the compression springs 86, 01 and 88 respectively. Thekeeper parts 69, 84 and 85 are slidably retained in the opening 90 inthe body pillar 2. The opening 90 is provided with the guide ange 9|.The ange 9| permits the keeper parts 69, 84 and 85 to slidektransversely of the pillar 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but positivelyprevents any vertical sliding movement by these keeper parts. 'IheIkeeper part 84 is provided with a shoulder 92 which engages therecessed corner 93 of the keeper part 69. The keeper part 85 is providedwith a shoulder 94 which engages with the recessed corner 95 of thekeeper part 84. The keeper part 69 is provided with a recess 96 whichreceives the part 91 of the pillar 2. The recess sarily follows thatwhen the door is closed and locked, the bolt cannot be retracted byoperation of the remote handle unless the lever 53 is iirst raised tolower or release the undogging plate 48. Thus the latch bolt is actuallydead locked.

I claim: f1. A door latch comprising in combination a latch frame, aretractable and projectable latch bolt mounted on said frame, a toggleoperatively connected to said bolt and latch frame whereby the saidtoggle when made holds said latch bolt projected, a keeper adapted forinterengagement with said bolt when the bolt is projected, resilientmeans associated with said keeper adapted to be compressed by the saidprojected bolt when interengaged with the keeper, and tripping mechanismfor throwing the toggle over center when the bolt and keeper areinterengaged whereby the force of the said resilient means breaks thetoggle and retracts the bolt to disengage the bolt and the keeper topermit door opening.

2.` A door latch comprising in combination a latch frame, a retractableand projectable latch bolt mounted on said frame, a toggle having oneend pivotally connected to said bolt and the other end pivotally mountedon the said latch frame, a resilient keeper adapted for interengagementwith said bolt when the bolt is projected, resilient means associatedwith said keeper adapted to be compressed by the said projected boltwhen interengaged with the keeper, and tripping mechanism for throwingthe toggle over center when the bolt and keeper are interengaged wherebythe force of the said resilient means breaks the toggle and retracts thebolt to disengage the bolt and the keeper to permit door opening.

3. A door latch comprising in combination a latch frame, a retractableand projectable latch bolt mounted on said frame, a toggle having oneend pivotally connected to the said bolt and the other end pivotally andreciprocably mounted on 'the said latch frame, the said toggle when madebeing retractable with the said bolt when the bolt is retracted by thekeeper in the closing of the door, a keeper adapted for interengagementwith said bolt when the bolt is projected, resilient means associatedwith said keeper adapted to be compressed by the said projected boltwhen n interengaged with the keeper, and tripping mech anism forthrowing the toggle over center when the bolt and keeper areinterengaged whereby the force of the said resilient means breaks thetoggle and retracts the bolt to disengage the bolt and the keeper topermit door opening.

4. A-door latch co`mprising in combination a latch frame, a retractableand projectable latch bolt mounted on said frame, a toggle having oneend pivotally connected to the said bolt and the other end pivotally andreciprocably mounted on the said latch frame, resilient meansoperatively connected to said other end of the toggle and adapted to actthrough said toggle to project said bolt, the said toggle when madebeing retractable with the said bolt when the bolt is retracted by vthekeeper in the closing of the door whereby the said above mentionedresilient means for projecting the bolt is compressed, a keeper adaptedfor interengagement with said bolt when the bolt is projected, resilientmeans associated with said keeper adapted to be compressed by the saidprojected bolt when interengaged with the keeper, and tripping mechanismfor throwing the toggle over center when the bolt and keeper areinterengaged whereby the force of the said resilient means breaks thetoggle and retracts the bolt to disengage the bolt and the keeper topermit door opening.

5. A door latch comprising in combination a latch frame, a reciprocablelatch bolt slidably mounted on the said frame, a toggle having one endpivotally connected to the said bolt and the other end pivotally andreciprocably mounted on the said latch frame, a spring operativelyconnected to the said other end of the toggle and adapted to act throughsaid toggle to project said bolt, the said toggle when made beingretractable With the said bolt when the bolt is retracted by the keeperin the closingv of the door whereby the said spring is compressed, akeeper over which the said bolt rides in the closing of the door adaptedfor interengagement with the said bolt when the bolt is projected andthe door closed, a plunger associated with the said keeper and adaptedto be depressed by the said bolt when interengaged with the keeper, asecond spring for backing up the said plunger and adapted to becompressed by the said projected bolt when interengaged with the keeper,a tripping lever pivotally mounted on the said bolt adapted when swungto engage the toggle lever and throw the same over center whereby theforce'of said springs breaks the toggle and retracts the bolt todisengage the bolt and keeper to permit `door opening.

6. A door latch comprising in combination a latch frame, a reciprocablelatch bolt slidably mounted on the said frame, a toggle having one endpivotally and reciprocably mounted on the said latch frame, a springoperatively connected to the said other end of the toggle and adapted toact through said toggle to project said bolt, the

said toggle when made being retractable with the said bolt when the boltis retracted by the keeper in the closing of the door whereby the saidspring is compressed, a keeper over which the said bolt rides intheclosing of the door adapted for interengagement with the said boltwhen the bolt is projected and thedoor closed, a plunger asso- `ciatedwith the said keeper and adapted to be and keeper to permit dooropening, and a push button mounted on the outside of the dooroperatively connected` with said tripping lever. and actuatable to swingthe said lever to ca use retraction of the said latch bolt.

'7. A door latch comprising in combination a latch frame, a retractableand projectable latch bolt mounted on said frame, a toggle having oneend pivotally connected to the said bolt and the other end pivotally andreciprocably mounted on the said latch frame, a spring operativelyconnected to said other end of said, toggle and adapted to act throughsaid toggle to project said bolt, the said toggle when made beingretractable with the said bolt when the bolt is retracted by the keeperin the closing of the door whereby the said first mentioned spring forprojecting the bolt is compressed, a stop for limiting the retraction ofsaid straightened toggle and bolt, a keeper adapted for interengagementwith said bolt when the bolt is projected, a spring associated with saidkeeper adapted to be compressed by the said said spring breaks thetoggle and retracts the bolt to disengage the bolt and the k'eeper topermit projected bolt, when interengaged with the keeper and retractionof said toggle and bolt is arrested by said stop, and tripping mechanismfor throwing the toggle 'over center when the bolt and keeper areinterengaged whereby 4the force ofthe door opening.

8. A door latch comprising in` combination a latch frame, a retractableand projectable latch bolt mounted on said frame, a toggle operativelyconnected to said bolt andV latch frame whereby the said toggle whenmade holds said latch bolt projected, a keeper adapted forinterengagement with said bolt when the bolt is projected, resilientmeans associatedwith said keeper adapted to be compressed by the saidprojected bolt when interengaged with the keeper when the toggle ismade, tripping mechanism for throwing the toggle slightly over'centerwhereby when the bolt and keeper are interengaged and the bolt is freelyretractable the force of the resilient means breaks the toggle andretracts the bolt to disengage the bolt and keeper to permit dooropening. and blocking means adapted to be set and released, saidblocking means when set serving to block retraction of the bolt by saidresilient means when the bolt and keeper are interengaged.

` said projected bolt when the toggle is made and.

when the bolt is interengaged with the keeper, tripping mechanism forthrowing the toggle over center whereby when the bolt and keeper areinterengaged and the toggle is made the force of said resilient meansbreaks the toggle and retracts the bolt, blocking means adapted to beset and released, said blocking means when set serving to blockretraction of the bolt by said resilient means when the bolt and keeperare interengaged and said blocking means when set and the bolt andkeeper are disengaged as when the door is open being releasable by thebolt as it is retracted by -the striker in closing\the door.

HENRY A. PEARCE.

